Thailand - June 2024

On 18 June, Thailand’s Senate passed a same-sex marriage bill that had been approved by the lower house in March. The bill now awaits royal assent, and it will become law 120 days following its publication in the Royal Gazette. The development makes Thailand the first Southeast Asian country to legalize same- sex marriage. The Marriage Equality Act amends Thailand’s Civil Commercial Code, introducing gender-neutral terms that define marriage as a partnership. The bill grants LGBTQIA+ individuals equal rights in adoption, tax allowances and inheritance. LGBTQIA+ rights advocates have hailed the move as a significant victory in their fight for equality.

Update: The bill received royal assent on 24 September 2024 and will take effect on 22 January 2025. 

Sources: Human Rights Watch, The New York Times, The Bangkok Post, Al Jazeera